Tag: history

Are you a loyal Ram truck driver but unsure of how your favorite brand got its start? Check out the brief history of Ram Trucks.

The Ram Truck Division was not founded until 2010, but Ram trucks have been around here at Transwest Chrysler Dodge Jeep® Ram and on American roadways much longer. Before Ram became its own subdivision of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, its trucks were simply sold under the Dodge brand as Dodge Ram models.

Dodge’s history of trucks dates back several decades before the 80s, but we will pick up the story in 1981, which is seen as year one for the first-generation of what we think of as the Dodge Ram Truck. Back then, designations were 150, 250, and 350 rather than the 1500, 2500, and 3500 we think of today; those came around in 1994.

In fact, 1994 brought more than just name changes. The style of the pickup changed dramatically in 1994, when they began to take on a “semi-truck” appearance. The 1994 models also introduced the 8.0-liter V10 engines that were immensely popular.

In 2002, Dodge unveiled the third generation of its pickups with new interiors, powertrains, and suspensions. The big change was the introduction of the 5.7-liter HEMI®, which added 100 horsepower to the work truck.

While it took a while for diesel to return to the 1500 segment, the Ram 2500 and 3500 got a turbodiesel engine option as early as 2007. The diesel wouldn’t be offered on the Ram 1500 model until 2014. It is still offered today, making the Ram 1500 the most-efficient pickup in its class.

The year 2010 was an important one for Ram; as mentioned above, this is the year that the truck lineup became its own brand entirely. To mark the occasion, Ram offered new engines, a new suspension, new offerings on the interior, and new styling on the exterior.

In 2012, the Rambox® was made available on all truck options, and 2013 brought a facelift to the lineup. Ram continues to innovate with its pickups, which is why it boasts the most loyal pickup drivers in the country.

So there you have it—a brief history of Ram trucks. Let us know what you think about the brand in the comments below!